Shaving appliance



Patented Oct. 2 1, 1941 UNITED ,sHAvING APPLINCE David o. Brant, oanogarark, Calif. Application January 17, 1939, serial No. 251,968

` s claims. trc1. sii-49) The present invention relates :to safety razors and particularly to a double edged band razor, both edges of Which'are-of an endless character.

First, it is an important object of the invention to improve upon band razors wherein two cutting edges are provided which are circularly continuous.

Secondly, it is an important object of the invention to improve upon and simplify the holding means for the razor, whereby Ythe blade isj securely and accurately maintained'in its operative position. Y

Thirdly, it is an important object of the invention to improve upon the means for and method of applying the razor blade tothe guard member.

handled, and may be discarded` after use, without compunction. Y y

Viewed as a method, the invention further relates to improved steps for clamping in place in the mounted position, Vone or more elongated, resilient blades, around a support, with the end portions of such blade -or blades directed toward each other in adjacent or else abutting relations.

Withv the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists, in general, of certain novel details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and particularly pointed out in the appended subject matter claimed. f

In the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, as Well as alternate generic embodiments,

Fig. l is a perspective view of the preferred species.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental section, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is .a perspective view of the clip whereby the razor blade is applied to the holder.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section.

Fig. 5 is ,an elevational view of the blade.

Fig. 6 is an elevational View of one of a series of blades from which a continuous blade is co-n- Fig.` 8 is a' section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7,

and,

i Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 7. `Referring in detail to the drawing, the blade holdingY member 9 includes a peripheral annular wallY or ring I0, the length, that is to say, the axial dimension of which is somewhat less than Vthe breadth of the double-edged blade II which is .provided to be supported thereby. Said blade holding member yalso includes a central rib or internal cross wall I2 united thereto, or made integral therewith as shown in the drawing. Said cross wall I2'is shown located at the midlength of the ring, axially considered.

The blade Ii is a flexible steel band capable of being flexed around the ring I0, and having a' slot I3 in a parallel adjacent relation to each of its end edges. Each ofthe side edge portions of said blade is beveled at I5 along its outer (when mounted) face to form a sharp cutting edge. Along each of its side edges the annular member IB is rounded at I6, these rounded edge portions forming guards which are properly juxtaposedin relation to the `cutting edges of the applied blade II tor cause the devicev to operate effectively without cutting the face of the user.

' The cross Wall I2 occupies .all the spaceV inclosed by thering I0 and forms a convenient hand hold for lthe person usingV the appliance, as indicated by the dotted lines, Illh delineating a portion of a human hand in Fig. l. Avoiding the vnecessity of attaching a separate handle means to the device is an important feature of the invention. y

In order to hold the* blade II in its mounted positiona bendable metallic clip 20 isprovided, which is preferably shaped at first as shown in detail in Fig. 3, Where said clip is shown as consisting of a strap of metal having an angularly bent central portion 2| furnished `at each side With a foot portion 22 which has underlying it a terminal flange or toe portion 23. Each of these terminal `flanges is directed towards its 'mate and is in a spaced,substantially parallel relationto the foot portion 22 of which it is a continuation. n y K 'The ring I@ is of a sufcient thicknesskto provide for Vforming in the midwidth portion of its outer periphery a depression or recess 24, and when the blade Il is mounted upon the ring it is so positioned as to bring its slottedr end portions in an overlyingprelation to said recess'24,

' theffoot flanges 23.,.of the clip 20 being at that time hooked into said slots so as to vcause ysaid clipto form aY connecting link'between the end bent to a circular shape. Then the user will bend the two sides of the angular part 2| into a closer relation to each other, thus drawing the blade snugly against the exterior periphery of the ring. Thereupon the bent together portions of the clip portion 2l Will be collectively bent down to the position shown in Fig. l, thus forming a means whereby the blade is locked in place around the ring. It is necessary to provide means to prevent the blade from displacement in an edgewise manner. a plurality of exteriorly projecting studs 25 which are circumierentially spaced in correspondence with the spacing of a series ofshort slots 26 formed along the midwidth of the blade. Said studs 25 project through said slots 26 when the blade is in its mounted position, the slots being long enough to allow clearances requisite for the tractioning action of the clip 2| upon the ring, when said clip is used to lock the ring in place in the manner which has been explained.

If desired, instead of the single longV blade ll shown in Fig. being used, a plurality of shorter blades, each shaped as the blade 30 of Fig. 6, may be employed, at least one of the slots 26 being formed in such blade, and when only one of these slots is provided it should be located in the mid length portion of the blade. In order to secure these blades 36 in place their end portions are secured to each other by additional clips 20, the ring l0 being provided with additional recesses 24 where the end portions of the short blades 3i) meet.

Whether a single blade or more than one is mounted upon the member 9 the blade ends are brought as nearly as possibleinto an abutting relation.

The ring Ill has a plurality of hair and lather admission slots 3| which are in an adjacent parallel relation to its rounded rims I6. The clearance afforded by said slots is made as nearly continuous as practicable, said slots being separated by narrow intact wall portions 32. The mounting means 9 is I-shaped when Viewed in any diametrical cross section. v

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 is shown a modified, arcuately shaped guard rim 45 having a web or nger-hold portion V4| located at its concaveside and uniting its end portions to each other. In this form of the invention afconventional Gillette blade is shown held in its attached position by means of anV arcuate outer clamping plate 45 Which is not only arcuate as to its length but is outwardly convexed transversely. At its mid length and mid width said plate 45 carries an internally projecting threaded stud 46 which projects through an apertured boss 4l formed on the rim 40. On to the projecting portion of said stud is screwed a milled nut 48 to clamp theattached blade in place.V Said plate 45 also carries in a For this purpose the ring is provided With` spaced relation to each of its ends, two inter- 2,259,996 portions of the blade after the latter has been feature may, if desired, be incorporated into the embodiment of the invention rst described.

In the segmental form of the device shown in Fig. 7, the web 4I is arcuately cut away along its inner side thus affording a lozenge shaped opening 49 adjacent to the stud 46, this opening affording a clearance to enable the user to readily apply and remove the nut 48.

The method of using the clips 20 to attach one or more blades in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. l to 4 has already been described, but a few words of explanation need to be added as to the advantages possessed by and the way of using the blade mounting means shown in the remaining views. n

The blade 30 is not only provided with a central opening to receive the threaded stud 46, but is also provided with openings spaced properly for receiving the studs 45s, the latter studs being suiciently long to hold the blade in place upon the detachable plate45, preparatory to clamping said plate in place. In applying the blade 30, the user will grasp said blade in an endwise manner between thumb and iinger and willV apply thereto enough pressure to bow it into the same direction that it will assume when mounted. While holding the blade thus he may readily slip its central apertured part over,` iirst the central stud 46 and then its lateral apertured portions over the studs 45s, whereupon the plate 45, together Vwith the blade 30 may be put into thek mounted position and secured in place by screwing the nut 48 in place. The arcuate web 4l forms a convenient handle means for using this form of the invention as a shaving implement.

In both embodiments of n the invention the peripheral portion of the appliance has an inwardly directed web which'serves as a handhold andhence avoids the expense and additional bulk incident to the provision of a conventional handle. Also, in the lrst embodiment described, having an internal handle means `leavesthe entire circumference of each cutting edge unobstructed and available for use in shaving.

The slots 3l may be provided with indicating numbers 55. Thus numbered they may be used to indicate to the shaver the amountoi blade length employed in a shaving loperation, so that when one portion of` the circumference of the blade has been used, and consequently becomes more or less dulleol, the portion thereof adjacent to the next slot in the series may be used for Ythernext shave, until all portions of the blade have been utilized. Other indicating means, for example, `dilerently colored portions may be emplcyed either on the holder or blade, if desired; but progressively numbering the slots is thought to -beas ygoed a means as any for carrying out the stated purpose, the slots on one side of the i vr1. A ring shaped guard member provided with a. rounded `side edge portion and having amanually grippable vcross Wall disposed at themidf length thereof, a flexible razor blade, and means to mount said blade on said guard member with the end edges thereof in abutting non-overlapping relation, there being a plurality of hair and lather admission slots in said guard member in an adjacent parallel relation to said rounded edge.

2. A ring shaped guard member, a flexible razor blade, and mounting means on said member for said blade, said mounting means having a circumferential continuity, said blade having apertures adjacent the ends thereof, and said mounting means including a flexible connection having hooks engageable in said apertures, said connection being manually collapsible for drawing the ends of said blade thru the medium of said hooks into an abutting circumferential continuity, there being a recess in the peripheral portion of said guard member wherein the inner ends of said hooks are housed whereby the diametrical extent of said blade is maintained substantially uniform.

3. A cylindrically shaped ring section having a circumferentially arranged series of centering devices projecting outwardly from the outer face thereof, a exible blade having a series of apertures to register with said centering devices when said blade is placed around said section, there being slots in said blade adjacent the ends thereof, and means extendable thru said slots for drawing the ends of said blade into an abutting relation.

4. The subject matter of claim 3 and, a manually grippablercross wall disposed at the midlength of said section, there being a series of openings in the end portions of said section, through which lather and hair is adapted to move during a shaving operation, said cross wall additionally serving as a catch for said lather and hair.

5. In a safety razor, a mounting member having an exterior surface of a curved character to form a seat for a razor blade, an elongated resilient blade occupying said seat, said blade having portions adjacent to its ends affording shoulders, and a bendable clip having a pair of limbs, portions of which are in engagement with said shoulders to maintain the end portions 0f said blade in an adjacent relation to each other, the part of said clip between said end portions being folded upon itself at such time to hold the attached blade in its contracted mounted position.

6. The subject matter of claim 5 and, said blade having apertures through it, edge portions of which constitute the aforesaid shoulders.

7. In a safety razor, a substantially circular mounting member, an elongated blade having a cutting edge, means whereby said blade is at tached to said mounting member in a circumferential exterior relation, said member having around its ends circular guards positioned to cooperate with the cutting edges of the mounted blade, a cross wall located at substantially the mid length of said member, said cross wall being positioned to form a hand hold for use in applying any portion of said cutting edge to the face of the user in shaving, and means to secure said blade in its aforesaid mounted position.

8. In a safety razor, a mounting member having a substantially cylindrical outer wall, an elongated blade having a cutting edge, and means whereby said blade is maintained in a mounted position upon said wall in acircumferential exterior relation thereto, said means including a clip whereby opposite end portions of said blade are connected together in a juxtaposed relation, said mounting member having around its end portion a circular guard positioned to cooperate with the adjacent cutting edge of the mounted blade, said mounting member including a web portion located at substantially its mid length and positioned to form a hand hold whereby all portions of the cutting edge of said blade may be used in shaving, the aforesaid cylindrical wall having through its end portion a series of adjacent apertures positioned to admit lather and shaved off hair when the appliance is in use.

DAVID O. BRANT. 

